Sharjah Flats and Villas Under ScannerPublish Date: 2009-06-06 07:00:11 Story Code: 16092 SHARJAH — The Sharjah Municipality disconnects power and water supply to around 300 apartments and villas on average in a month for flouting municipality regulations.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on Tuesday, Mohammed bin Duween Al Kabbi, Head of the Security Section, said the municipality has fined or issued warnings to owners of villas and houses that accommodate labourers in residential areas, crowd rooms or house both men and women living single. The municipality disconnects the utility supply when owners do not comply with the regulations even after being given warnings and grace period, he said. The municipality has intensified inspections in residential and commercial areas targeting apartments accommodating labourers and dilapidated houses being used illegally by absconding workers. In May alone, the municipality disconnected power supply to around 400 houses and apartments for housing labourers or more families than allowed. “We only allow up to five families in a villa of five rooms.” Al Kabbi said during inspections in Al Qarayen residential area, the inspectors spotted a house that accommodated 12 workers who used to brew liquor. “They were all caught drunk.” From October 2008 to May 31 this year, the municipality disconnected power and water supply to 4,800 houses in residential areas for accommodating labourers. It also issued warnings to owners of 50 dilapidated houses, asking them to demolish their buildings within a grace period of six months. A large number of wanted people, illegals and absconding workers were arrested when municipal inspectors, in coordination with the police, raided these houses in areas like Al Mussalah, Al Fisht, Al Nasseriya and Al Mansoura, Al Kabbi noted. The municipality imposes a fine of Dh1,000 for each labourer found residing in a residential area and Dh10,000 for providing accommodation by a company at its construction site. It would immediately disconnect the utility services in houses or apartments found accommodating single men and women together. During inspections, the municipality fined a company Dh96,000 for providing accommodation for 118 labourers in a house in a residential area. Another house, also raided by the inspectors, had 90 men and women living together. The inspectors also raided a traditional kitchen in Al Mansoura area that accommodated 80 workers of various nationalities working for different companies. © Khaleej Times 2009. All rights reserved. Share this story:  Digg
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